[quote]Capacity wrote:
Edit: Sucked it up and lifted. Nothing exciting to report![/quote]
This made me smile. Way to go
What a half-assed week it’s been. Not all bad, just a roller coaster ride. The funny thing about gettin’ older is this kind of stuff doesn’t get my panties in a bunch the way it used to.
Thurs: (Yeah, so I often “report” a day or two after the fact. Sue me.)
Another one of those “Meant to” days. Meant to lift. Didn’t. Meant to do cardio. Didn’t. Meant to stretch. Just plain blew it off.
What I DID do was a lot of outdoor work. The humidity has been down and it’s felt like Indian Summer the last couple of days. Sooooooo … Gotta take advantage of the break and get some stuff done. I’m also gearing up for a MAJOR kitchen overhaul. I got the delivery date for my cabinets and it’s much sooner than expected … like, half the time. Panic!
I spent most of the morning cleaning out cupboards. Tossing just about everything that isn’t nailed down. Feels good. Lots of up and down on chairs and hauling things to the curb. I meant to chip away at this a little at a time, but with the delivery changed I’d better get crackin’.
Took at break at 11 and saddled up my mare. I just couldn’t let another beautiful day slip by without riding something … horse, bike … whatever. Had an awesome ride along the river and through the woods. Not too many buzzards (people) out … just the way I like it.
Unfortunately, that pretty much screwed my back for the rest of the day. Tight as a drum. I knew that would happen … it goes with the territory. It’s the price I pay for a few hours of peace and solitude. Seems like most of the things I do to get my head screwed on straight trashes my body. Damn!
So no lifting. No cardio. Too tight to even stretch. I had to grit my teeth through the rest of the afternoon and evening chores and look forward to gettin’ off my feet later.
Today is another day …
Cappy
[quote]Capacity wrote:
What I DID do was a lot of outdoor work. The humidity has been down and it’s felt like Indian Summer the last couple of days. Sooooooo … Gotta take advantage of the break and get some stuff done. I’m also gearing up for a MAJOR kitchen overhaul. I got the delivery date for my cabinets and it’s much sooner than expected … like, half the time. Panic!
…
Today is another day …
[/quote]
When my wife got excited about the cabinets coming in, we got everything torn out and then it turned out everything was screwed up and we ended up using a 12" sink in another room and a hot plate for a couple-three months before we had a kitchen again.
I no longer rush into getting ready quite so fast.
Hope today goes better for you. I’m impressed that the martial arts you are doing leave your back ok. I’ve been concerned, but figured you knew what you were doing, seems like you do.
Wish you well.
Nothing like a remodel to test one’s will, patience, commitment, and marriage.
While the sore back is a real ‘pain’, I’m really pulling for an easy renovation!
[quote]j_willy3 wrote:
Nothing like a remodel to test one’s will, patience, commitment, and marriage.
While the sore back is a real ‘pain’, I’m really pulling for an easy renovation![/quote]
Thanks! We shall see. This is a first for us, and a very long-anticipated project! I can’t wait to get started on this house. Two more payments and it’s finally ALL OURS!!! Phew!
It’s been a crazy week … all over the place! Yesterday I threw caution to the wind and hit the trail with another horse. This boy made me work a little harder, but the reward was an absolutely perfect ride. He’s a rocket … all about speed and power! Tons of fun if you’re in the right mood for it. We had a blast! Well, except for that mile or so I had to get off and walk because the footing sucked. New shoes are on tap for him today.
This week turned out to have very little lifting. Not that I mind. Three MA classes, two good rides and all the outdoor work was plenty. I’d love to squeeze in a workout this morning, but I have BJJ later today. Judging from last Saturdays class, it would be foolish to try to lift on the same day. So alas, I’m not gonna try.
However, yesterday the God of Good Luck smiled on me and I scored a brand new, barely used WaveMaster punching bag from CraigsList! Dirt cheap! I’m so psyched! The guy went out and bought his 7 year-old son a $330, XXL WaveMaster after the kid started taking Karate with park and rec. Wow! Talk about overkill!
Then the kid dug in his heels and quit the lessons about two weeks after the bag arrived! (I don’t have kids, but I could have predicted that!) So the bag sat unused in a corner for several months. I talked with the wife and she was like, “Frigging husband … trying to live vicariously through our son!” Gee, ya think? LOL!
Anyhow, Dad’s folly was my gain.
I’m gonna go for a run this morning, then give that puppy a little test drive!
Cappy
[quote]Capacity wrote:
j_willy3 wrote:
Then the kid dug in his heels and quit the lessons about two weeks after the bag arrived! (I don’t have kids, but I could have predicted that!) I talked with the wife and she was like, “Frigging husband … trying to live vicariously through our son!”
Anyhow, Dad’s folly was my gain.
I’m gonna go for a run this morning, then give that puppy a little test drive!
Cappy
[/quote]
Good for you Cappy. My MOM did the same thing to me when she bought my daughter a Spinet Piano. After 4 of my guys and me each got hernia’s moving the damn piano, my daughter quit taking lessons…I tried to tell Mom…But since she is a mother she never listens to her son…
Glad you had a good ride. Yep I’m a country bumpkin, web footed swamp rat, but those damn horses scare the hell out of me. I have a lot of respect for anyone that rides!
[quote]Capacity wrote:
j_willy3 wrote:
Nothing like a remodel to test one’s will, patience, commitment, and marriage.
While the sore back is a real ‘pain’, I’m really pulling for an easy renovation!
Thanks! We shall see. This is a first for us, and a very long-anticipated project! I can’t wait to get started on this house. Two more payments and it’s finally ALL OURS!!! Phew!
It’s been a crazy week … all over the place! Yesterday I threw caution to the wind and hit the trail with another horse. This boy made me work a little harder, but the reward was an absolutely perfect ride. He’s a rocket … all about speed and power! Tons of fun if you’re in the right mood for it. We had a blast! Well, except for that mile or so I had to get off and walk because the footing sucked. New shoes are on tap for him today.
This week turned out to have very little lifting. Not that I mind. Three MA classes, two good rides and all the outdoor work was plenty. I’d love to squeeze in a workout this morning, but I have BJJ later today. Judging from last Saturdays class, it would be foolish to try to lift on the same day. So alas, I’m not gonna try.
However, yesterday the God of Good Luck smiled on me and I scored a brand new, barely used WaveMaster punching bag from CraigsList! Dirt cheap! I’m so psyched! The guy went out and bought his 7 year-old son a $330, XXL WaveMaster after the kid started taking Karate with park and rec. Wow! Talk about overkill!
Then the kid dug in his heels and quit the lessons about two weeks after the bag arrived! (I don’t have kids, but I could have predicted that!) So the bag sat unused in a corner for several months. I talked with the wife and she was like, “Frigging husband … trying to live vicariously through our son!” Gee, ya think? LOL!
Anyhow, Dad’s folly was my gain.
I’m gonna go for a run this morning, then give that puppy a little test drive!
Cappy
[/quote]
I still have my twenty year old daughter’s wavemaster sitting behind me while I type. She grabbed it at a garage sale.
Two things to think about.
First: http://www.thejudocrusader.com/?p=215 – well worth reading about attitude.
Second: If you are short and have reach issues, instead of trying to work your hands, think seriously about using your legs. Especially with the jamming that MT teaches, you can learn to move inside of the other guy’s kicking range, but outside his hands and kick against his hands, jam against his feet.
If he pushes, then your hands are inside his hands. When I was serious, I also had a wrestling background and solid judo so that anyone who pushed too much didn’t get a clinch, they got thrown.
But it worked very well for me. Shocks someone who is taller than you when you counter-kick against them, but the game where they are trying to kick and you are trying to close to punch works a lot better where you stay outside their kicking range and when they try to close, you try to close a little more, into your kicking range but cramping theirs. You don’t have to move any where near as much.
[quote]Elaikases wrote:
I still have my twenty year old daughter’s wavemaster sitting behind me while I type. She grabbed it at a garage sale.
Two things to think about.
First: http://www.thejudocrusader.com/?p=215 – well worth reading about attitude.
Second: If you are short and have reach issues, instead of trying to work your hands, think seriously about using your legs. Especially with the jamming that MT teaches, you can learn to move inside of the other guy’s kicking range, but outside his hands and kick against his hands, jam against his feet.
If he pushes, then your hands are inside his hands. When I was serious, I also had a wrestling background and solid judo so that anyone who pushed too much didn’t get a clinch, they got thrown.
But it worked very well for me. Shocks someone who is taller than you when you counter-kick against them, but the game where they are trying to kick and you are trying to close to punch works a lot better where you stay outside their kicking range and when they try to close, you try to close a little more, into your kicking range but cramping theirs. You don’t have to move any where near as much.
[/quote]
Must take a lot of bruises till that becomes automatic…
[quote]skidmark wrote:
Must take a lot of bruises till that becomes automatic…[/quote]
Mentally it is like popping that side kick into a boxer’s ribs every time he covers his face. It kind of becomes second nature really quickly.
I’m about ten years out of shape and still have a lot of stretching to do before I could think about doing that again, but it comes a lot faster than you would think.
I started Shotokan in 1970 and by 73 had this pattern down. Served me well for years afterwards.
Not to mention, against taller/longer legged fighters, you don’t have to worry about groin kicks as much.
Saturday BJJ:
Good class I guess. Gosh, I hate being a rookie. First we drilled a new knee lock technique. Don’t know how to 'splain it to you, but it was cool. Complex though. After we paired up and bumbled through it a half dozen times (or so) Marco (the teacher) admitted it’s a “fairly complex” movement. LOL! Uh, ya think? We broke it down into steps and then it clicked for me. I didn’t have any problems with it after that and it felt very natural.
Next came rounds of rolling! OK, well, duh … don’t know what the heck I’m doing so this is pretty stressful! I finally got with paired someone I’ve rolled with before and he showed me some different basic stuff. That helped a lot. Now if I can just remember some of it I’ll be all set. This class runs long. At the end I got the heck out of the way and just watched for a bit.
Sunday:
Another coulda, shoulda, woulda … but didn’t, day. I dunno. I kinda felt like I needed a day off … so I took it. I’m seldom 100% sure I’m going to blow everything off, so right down to the wire I kept thinking I might either lift or do some cardio or something. But in the end I didn’t. This isn’t a good plan for me and I always end up cranky and feeling like I’m cheating myself or something by not training. I’m much better off when I wake up knowing it’s a day off than trying to create a day off when I screw up and don’t train or just don’t feel like I’m game that day.
Monday:
MT Class:
OK, I’m in a funk. I didn’t enjoy today’s class and I didn’t walk out of last weeks class feeling jazzed either. I think I’m probably being too hard on myself and it’s weighing me down. Why can’t I just do stuff and have FUN like normal people do? Why do I always have to be so damn hard on myself, constantly grading my performance and progress? I think I need to lighten up a bit …
That said, I’m struggling with the way MA is taught. It seems to me (and I might be totally talking out my ass) like there is no clear pattern in how MA is taught. In other words, when you get to class you have no idea what you’re gonna do. It could be something you’ve touched on before or it could be something you’ve never learned.
So not only do you not always get to practice what you think you know, you could get something new thrown at you that’s totally foreign. Which is fine, but you might not get the chance to go back and review or practice stuff you’ve learned for weeks!
Same with sparring, you might spar with someone who’s at (more or less) your own level, but then again, you might have to spar with someone who throws things at you that you haven’t even learned yet … which totally irks me and makes me feel like shark bait.
It’s the same with BJJ. It’s not like first they teach you the fundamentals, you drill that until you’ve got it nailed down, then they add something more complex to it. No. Every class is different and you’re supposed to figure out how and where each piece of the puzzle fits.
I’m sure it must work like this because people are constantly joining a class that is already in progress, but as far as I’m concerned it’s a suck-ass way to try to learn this. Frankly, I have no business learning complex moves when I don’t know how the heck to do the basics yet.
OK, rant off. Back to MT class:
Drilled switch kicks, then switch kick combos, then knee work. I don’t seem to have much trouble with kicks or knees. The other female was absent and nobody wanted to pair up with me. That might have made me feel uncomfortable a while ago, but now it just plain frys my ass. Some of these guys have clocked me good (by accident) and they know I don’t break. They also know I’m going to be doing my best to get my own shots in. So what gives? Grrrrrrr!
I’ll be lifting a little later on. I’m considering switching to a full body routine for a bit.
Cappy
I must have gotten old because the thought of getting punched or kicked is way off my top 10 list. You’ve got balls to fight/spar full contact.
Interesting process. I understand your pain. Then I am an enabler of that learning behavior. The nature of my industry is that way. Each company has a slightly different process and method. There are no hard and fast rules, just generations of learned knowledge.
It’s real hard for a structured learner. Still I think it goes back to the way the “teacher” learned it. They know this worked for them but with no real knowledge of why it works. Then you can’t pass the knowledge effectively to the student. (I have the same problem with Algebra i never understood how a+b=c. I have been screwed up ever since)I suspect your very cause and effect, with a sense of observation that is sharper. That makes it 40 times more frustrating because there is no real method to the madness.
But I’ll be damned if I know!! I’m just glad I don’t have to spar with you. I can see it now…“What cha doing with the limp willy? Did that lady kick your ass AGAIN?”
[quote]j_willy3 wrote:
It’s real hard for a structured learner.[/quote]
I never thought if it in those terms, but that must be what I am … a structured learner. Or a moron. I’m not sure which. All I know is that it doesn’t make any sense to me. I thought with enough repetition things would click, but it’s been four months and there hasn’t been enough repetition on some stuff to count.
Well, that and the fact that there are no beginner classes that run for 8 weeks (or so) so newbies can start with the basics. I think they do things this way becuase God forbid, they might lose a student if the beginner class doesn’t start for another week or two. Hey, you might go elsewhere.
So instead they blend all the new students into whatever level class is ongoing at the time on that day, and you’re stuck trying to keep up with a pack that has a huge lead on your level of knowledge. (And in many cases, though not mine, level of fitness. I’ve watched plenty of new guys gas and not come back … why? I suspect because of shame. IMO that’s so not necessary.)
Exactly! At one point we were gearing up to spar and the instructor was rattling off a list of what we were allowed to do … punches, kicks, teeps, eblows … Wait. I’m like, Huh? Elbows? I haven’t had a single class with elbow use yet! Not that it’s rocket science; it’s kinda second nature. Still, I really don’t know how to properly defend against them. Yet you’ll have me spar with someone who has plenty of experience throwing them? Sheesh!
I dunno. I think total beginners need to spend a little time on the basics. Learn how to work the pads. Teach them how to use a heavy bag. Let them get some overall conditioning under their belt. What’s so hard about that? Heck, even I’ve had issues with rookies not knowing how to hold the pads. Sometimes it’s the little things that can get you hurt.
Ha!
Cappy
Cappy,
There are different teaching styles. The funniest thing that ever happened back in our Wichita Falls club was when I had to take over teaching for long stretches of our instructor on TDY. He left me detailed progressive lesson plans.
When I taught them the “bones” of the plans were more obvious than when he taught though what I taught was just a continuation of his plans (since he would just hand me his notebook and I’d handle the classes for a couple months or so). I got a lot of positive feedback on it that just made me smile.
I suspect they’ve just forgotten how to integrate beginners. It is a separate skill.
Helps if they have a kids class. I’d recommend a good DVD except I’m out of touch with your area of MA.
I’m too old and fat to train like that now … (err, well, I slipped and lost weight, but I’m definitely too old).
Kind of goes against the basis of repetition to ingrain a behavior. Maybe “sport” fighting is different but I’ve always thought this was one of the basic tenets. Do it enough that your body will react naturally. Been away from it for a while so maybe the philosopphy has changed.
20+ years ago when I was teaching in my college Dojo, we had a separate beginners class. The college club where I also taught had one big class but we did basics for half the class together and then split so that the beginners got some more direct attention from the assigned senior student. But those are luxuries that rely on a large class to support. My current Dojo expects that much of the repetition happens training on your own and that class time is for refinement and new stuff.
Has your instructor indicated that training on your own outside of class is expected?
Hel and Elaikases: Exactly!
The BJJ instructor does seem to have us drill whatever technique he teaches in each class. With the right partner, that means you might get to repeat the move 10-12 times in a row before trying it out while actually rolling. But I don’t see where the techniques flow from week to week. In other words, I don’t see them teaching a foundation, then building on it one movement or technique at a time.
Same with MT. We might drill something in part of the class, but that doesn’t mean it will build on what we did the class before. Oh, and it’s two different MT teachers and they don’t try to coordinate their lesson plans at all. So one might have us working on something sort of basic on Monday, then the other teacher might have us doing something pretty advanced on Wednesday. It’s a total crap shoot every week.
I just find this sort of rational so hard to follow. They’ve said it will eventually click or I’ll have an “ah-ha” moment, but right now I’m just frustrated. It’s not that I can’t do it, I can. But it’s not making much sense to me. Maybe it’s time to take a private lesson? I wanted to wait until I had a decent foundation to make it worthwhile, but maybe I have enough for some one-on-one help?
Soldog: It’s hard to “practice” sparring at home on your own! Sure, you can shadowbox, and believe me, I do. (I like to shadowbox between sets when I’m lifting!) And I just scored a nice punching bag that (hopefully) will help. Still, learning how to “read” your opponent, perfect kicking distance and understand reach require a live body … something most people don’t have at home for practice. I mean, I can throw combos at the bag 'till the cows come home, but knowing WHEN certain combos are going to be most effective and knowing how to set that up can only be learned through live practice.
If this was Karate then I’d have no excuse. Yes, you can practice Kata and forms at home. But BJJ and Muay Thai are different in that respect. BJJ you can’t do squat to practice without someone to roll with. I think they should split off like you describe. The classes are big enough and they have a second room the less experienced students could use.
Ahem! I think I’m either the same age or a year older, my dear! 
I’m trying not to whine. Maybe I’m just having a bad hair day? No full moon … Blame it on the Bossa Nova?
Cappy
[quote]Capacity wrote:
…
If this was Karate then I’d have no excuse. Yes, you can practice Kata and forms at home. But BJJ and Muay Thai are different in that respect. BJJ you can’t do squat to practice without someone to roll with.
…
Ahem! I think I’m either the same age or a year older, my dear!
I’m trying not to whine. Maybe I’m just having a bad hair day? No full moon … Blame it on the Bossa Nova?
Cappy
[/quote]
I keep thinking you are in your forties, not in the over fifty crew with me.
I’m trying to create a training partner. The guy I’d hoped for wants to go back to Shotokan, he’d even consider Wado Ryu (which split from Shotokan over wanting to spar more), but he isn’t interested in Judo. I’m going to troll for some other people I know. I really want a partner who would make the 179 weight class (I’m working towards 160). That worked wonders for me in wrestling.
Don’t know if you are in a place where you can create/convert a sparring partner? Then you can build your own BJJ curriculum to work things in an ordered fashion on your own, taking the lessons as supplements. Random jolts.
BJJ is so strange to me. I did a lot of JuJitsu matwork, but we allowed strikes, including groin strikes, so it was dramatically different – obviously no one used the BJJ guard for example. I just don’t have any suggestions.
Shotokan is easy, Nakamura, back in the day when he dominated just about all of it (aside from the Shotokai guys, who never made a numbers impact) he was in charge of a major Physical Education program at Japan’s equivalent of Harvard. There are lots of introductory materials and teaching aids.
That sort of blend is kind of rare though. In Judo you could get Ohlenkamp’s book if you were a green belt and start teaching yourself (if you had a friend to work out with). Hoare’s or Nishioka’s book isn’t bad for a class of white belts.
Anyone know of a good BJJ book to recomend to Cappy?
You’ve got my sympathy.
[quote]Capacity wrote:
Soldog: It’s hard to “practice” sparring at home on your own! Sure, you can shadowbox, and believe me, I do. (I like to shadowbox between sets when I’m lifting!) And I just scored a nice punching bag that (hopefully) will help. Still, learning how to “read” your opponent, perfect kicking distance and understand reach require a live body … something most people don’t have at home for practice. I mean, I can throw combos at the bag 'till the cows come home, but knowing WHEN certain combos are going to be most effective and knowing how to set that up can only be learned through live practice.
Cappy
[/quote]
Apologies Cappy, I was just showing off my ignorance of MT and BJJ. My Karate experience led me to generalize to all martial arts thinking basics and forms of some kind were common to all.
As Elaikases suggested, a sparring partner who can work with you outside of class sounds like a necessity.